Ditty to join U.S. Fed. Cup team

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 4 (UPI) -- Julie Ditty has been selected to replace the injured Bethanie Mattek on the U.S. Federation Cup team.

The United States is scheduled to take on Argentina in the Fed Cup quarterfinals Friday and Saturday in Surprise, Ariz.

U.S. team captain Mary Joe Fernandez said Mattek, ranked 40th in the world, withdrew from this week's play because of a hip injury. The same problem kept Mattek out of the recent Australian Open.

In addition to Ditty, the U.S. team will include Jill Craybas, Liezel Huber and Melanie Oudin. Craybas, No. 75 in the world, is the highest ranked player among the four.

Last year, U.S. Fed. Cup teams included top-ranked Serena Williams and world No. 6 Serena Williams. But the Williams sisters decided against playing this week.

The United States has a 2-1 career edge over Argentina in Fed Cup meetings. The Argentinians won the latest meeting -- a 1993 series in the World Group quarterfinals.